Lectin-like transcript 1 (LLT1) expression is associated with nodal metastasis in patients with head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

The interaction of lectin-like transcript 1 (LLT1) with CD161 inhibits Natural Killer cell activation. Overexpression of LLT1 contributes to the immunosuppressive properties of tumor cells. However, there are little data about LLT1 expression in human solid tumors. The objective of this paper is to investigate the relationship between LLT1 expression with the clinicopathologic features and its impact on the prognosis of head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). LLT1 expression was analyzed on paraffin-embedded tissue samples obtained from 100 patients with cSCC by immunohistochemistry. The estimator of Fine and Gray was used to estimate the cumulative incidence curves for relapse. Proportional Hazard models and Hazard ratios (HRs) were used for studying the risk of tumor relapse and mortality. LLT1 strong expression was a significant risk factor for nodal metastasis with crude and adjusted ratios (HRs) of 3.40 (95% CI 1.39-9.28) and 3.25 (95% CI 1.15-9.16); and for cSCC specific death of 6.17 (95% CI 1.79-21.2) and 6.10 (95% CI 1.45-25.7). Strong LLT1 expression is an independent predictor of nodal metastasis and poor disease-specific survival and it might be helpful for risk stratification of patients with cSCC.

Distinctive clinicopathological associations of amplification of the cortactin gene at 11q13 in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas

Amplification of the 11q13 region is a prevalent genetic alteration in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We investigated the clinical significance of cortactin (CTTN) and cyclin D1 (CCND1) amplification in both malignant transformation and tumour progression. CTTN and CCND1 amplification was analysed by differential and real-time PCR in a prospective series of laryngeal/pharyngeal carcinomas and archival premalignant tissues. CTTN mRNA and protein expression were respectively determined by real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, and correlated with gene status. Molecular alterations were associated with clinicopathological parameters and disease outcome. CTTN and CCND1 amplifications were respectively found in 75 (37%) and 90 (45%) tumours. Both correlated with advanced disease; however, only CTTN amplification was associated with recurrence and reduced disease-specific survival (p = 0.0022). Strikingly, CTTN amplification differentially influenced survival depending on tumour site (p = 0.0001 larynx versus p = 0.68 pharynx) and was an independent predictor of reduced survival in the larynx (p = 0.04). CCND1 amplification was detected in early tumourigenesis and increased with the severity of dysplasia. Importantly, CTTN amplification was only found in high-grade dysplasias that progressed to invasive carcinoma. CTTN gene status strongly correlated with mRNA and protein expression. Furthermore, CTTN overexpression correlated significantly with reduced disease-specific survival (p = 0.018). Taken together, these data indicate that CTTN may serve as a valuable biomarker to identify patients with laryngeal tumours at high risk of recurrence and poor outcome.